Jiggs Kalra, Who Took Indian Cuisine to International Level Dies at 72Top Stories

Jaspal Inder Singh Kalra, popularly known as Jiggs Kalra, the celebrated restaurateur and food consultant passed away on Tuesday in Gurugram at an age of 72. His cremation will be held on Thursday at the Lodhi crematorium.

Jiggs Kalra took the Indian cuisine to international level. He was also an author and columnist. Once a journalist, Jiggs became a food consultant in the 1980s. He was a pioneer of modern Indian cuisine.

He was the founder of restaurants like Punjab Grill, Made in Punjab and Masala Library.

Jiggs Kalra was also the first Asian to be inducted in the International Food and Beverage Gourmet Hall of Fame. Jiggs was also known as the ‘Czar of Indian Cuisine’.

He represented India at various international food festivals and summits, apart from having served the likes of British royals Prince Charles, late Princess Diana and former United States President Bill Clinton he had also written 11 books on Indian cuisine.

Last month, Jiggs son Zorawar Kalra had shared an update about his health on Instagram on his father's 72nd birthday.

"Today is my father Jiggs Kalra's 72nd birthday. This is the first time, unfortunately, it has been celebrated in hospital, as he isn't well. Last year we celebrated it together as a family. Nothing matters more than time spent with your parents as each and every single Birthday matters. He is a toughie. Has been battling his stroke for 19 years and will be back soon," Zorawar had posted on May 21.

A post shared by Zorawar Kalra (@zkalra) on May 21, 2019 at 7:32am PDT

Jiggs is survived by his son Zorawar who owns a Massive Restaurants Private Limited. Zorawar Singh carried the legacy of his father and went to open a famous chain of ‘Farzi Cafe’. As soon as the news of Jiggs death broke out, the internet has been flooded with condolence messages.